TC 10 Mile Recap

TC 10 Mile! I don’t even know where to start! It had an amazing race last Sunday!

I feel like I had been training all summer for this race. I guess you could say I had been since I went straight from triathlon training to focusing on the TC 10 Mile. I believe I mentioned it before but I hired a new coach, Beth, this year. When I hired Beth it was for the triathlon coaching but then we rolled into TC 10 training.

We had to cut my training back a little due to the Posterior Tibial Tendonitis I have been dealing with since June. Due to that, Beth decided to have me follow a 10K training plan to keep the mileage down. I fully trusted her, but I would be lying it I said I was concerned I wouldn’t have the endurance for the full 10 miles. Then add the fact that she figured out my heart rate was running to high when I ran and we implemented heart rate training, I wasn’t at all confident TC 10 was going to be my best race.

However, as the race got closer and closer just seemed like everything was clicking! I was feeling great, my runs were going well, and I just had a confidence I couldn’t explain. I had never gone into a race feeling as prepared or ready as I did going into the TC 1o Mile!

Flat Missy

I often have a conversation with myself the night before the race to set goals and expectations. More so, so I can keep my expectations in check! I like to push myself and sometimes I can take it a little too far. So I made the decision based on my training and race plan that I would be extremely happy with a 2:07 finish time.

Race morning was an early morning, the alarm went off at 4:30 am. That is the earliest I have had to get up for a race within the Twin Cities metro area. Anyway, TC 10 is a point to point race, starting in Downtown Minneapolis and ending at the state capital in St. Paul. I parked in Minneapolis since runners could ride the lightrail for free, I would just ride the lightrail from the capital to where I parked.

I made my way to the start area, and let me mention it is a huge area! There are four corrals that all start on different streets so I need to find where my corral was. After finding that, I found the port-a-potties and waited in line. Now let me say, that I didn’t wait long because Twin Cities in Motion did an amazing job of anticipating the runners needs! When I got out, it was close to start time, I made my way to my corral. I was in corral four, which is the slower runners and the runners who neglected to include a time in their registration. Beth wanted me lined up in the front third of the corral, since I was running by myself. She felt like if I was a little slower than the other it was fine since I was only one person to get around.

The official start time was 7 am but I my corral take off until 7:20 am. It was cool that morning so the first mile was tougher than normal since I was colder than normal due to the standing around waiting for the start. When I saw the time for my first mile (12:09) I had to reconsider my approach. I was supposed to be start the first few miles at a 13:00-13:30 pace, but I figured that I would get out of the crowd and then pull back to get into my pace window.

I got my picture taken at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Expo “at the course” finish!

Well mile two (12:29) and mile three (12:24) were over before I realized it. I started to get a little worried at that point, I felt like I was probably pushing it a little too soon. At that point, I made myself pull back, or so I thought. Mile four time flashed on my watch, 12:43, a little better. Now, we were getting into the really pretty part of the course and there was getting to be more and more spectators. At mile five (12:41) and a half I realized that I hadn’t fueled. I took in some of my jelly bean in order to stay ahead of a crash.

Prior to the race the plan was to make the judgement call at mile 6 (12:42) on if I was going to speed up. Since I had been faster than planned the whole race I decided to keep the pace at where I had been and make the call at mile 8. Mid-way through mile 6 I ran into a friend I had made through Facebook for the first time, yes we had never met in person. So we ran together for a way then I decided to keep going when she started walking. I don’t remember much about mile 7 (12:23) because I was having an internal fight with myself about how I was going to run the last few miles.

Finally, mile 8 (11:46) and I decided I was going to let my body make the call. I had put the training in and felt like I knew when I was comfortably uncomfortable and when I was just plain uncomfortable. Seeing 11:46, concerned me because that was 45 seconds faster than we ever planned on my going but I wasn’t going over think it I was just going to run.

And that is exactly what I did for the last two plus miles. I far exceeded any expectations I had for myself. Mile 9 flashed on my watch, 11:27, okay well that mile felt good, keep going is what I thought. As always, when mile 10 came up on my watch I still had a little bit of the race to go but not much. But I had to do a double take when I saw the time, 10:53! All I could think was there is no way that was accurate. I don’t run full miles at 10:53 especially not the LAST mile of a race. Then I was at the finish line and my watch said 2:02:21. A full five minutes faster than I had planned!

My finishers beer and medal! I was one happy girl!

The thing that amazed me more than anything was that I felt amazing after the race. I didn’t feel like I had killed myself, like every other longer race I had run. I had about every emotion in the book as I made my way to get my medals and finisher shirt. I had decided after running Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon that I was done with distance running after the TC 10 Mile because I wasn’t getting faster and wasn’t enjoying distance running. But due to Beth’s coaching and my following her training I have a completely different outlook on distance running! I can’t wait for my next long distance race (two weeks when I do the 10 mile at the Monster Dash)!

My bib, TC 10 Mile Finisher Medal, and Summit Challenge Medal

Between the well planned and supported race/course, the beautiful course, and me being prepared for the race, TC 10 Mile will stand as one of my favorite races. In fact, I will just say it, it is by far my favorite race I have ever run!

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Comments

Hey! I got your blog info from Beth, who helped me train for the Medtronic 10K this fall. I just wanted to say that you’re awesome and I haven’t quite made it through all your posts, but I’ve been on the HUNT for some seriously inspiring running blogs (all my old ones seem to have gone on to other things), so I’m glad to have found yours. Anyway, congratulations on finishing the 10 mile!!

Wow! Thank you! Beth is the best! She has totally changed my running. I am planning a post about hiring a coach soon, it will be about hiring a coach but mostly about my experience with her. Also, I so know what your are talking about! It is hard when you start following a blogger and they move down a different path.

Ten miles is my favorite distance for a race! I have run many half marathons but you are so right 10 mile just isn’t as demanding. I am in love with that purple skirt! I have been trying to figure out how I can where it to work!

Hello! My name is Missy, and I am the blogger behind Getting Fit to Find Myself. I live in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) with my fiancé, Justin, and my dog, Baylee. This blog came out of a want, I wanted a place to talk about how my fitness and weight loss journeys have helped shape who I am today. Read More…